Typically, November and December are the busy holiday months for U.K. retailers, with sales falling in subsequent months. This year seems to be bucking the trend so far, with new data suggesting both retail sales and hiring have made significant gains in 2012.

According to a report from the Office of National Statistics, the retail sector saw sales actually rise by 0.9 percent in January. Meanwhile, data from recruitment firm Reed found that more than 3,500 new retail jobs have been posted on its website since the start of the year.

"The surge in new job postings may be in reaction to the healthy sales figures seen by retailers, meaning more are now willing to create jobs and take on new staff to further bolster returns," Reed said in a statement.

Many Britons appear to be excited to get involved with the retail industry – more than 96,000 individuals applied for these 3,500 jobs.

The retail sector in the United States has made similar gains, with a number of merchants crediting Valentine's Day and warmer weather with boosted sales in February.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at 9:44 am .